So ... what's the big secret out at State Pier?

The "mystery building," under construction, sits on a barge at State Pier in New London on Tuesday. Despite the structure's size and visibility, its identity has thus far managed to remain a secret. Some guesses: a movie set, a floating prison, maybe even condominiums.

The "mystery building," under construction, sits on a barge at State Pier in New London on Tuesday. Despite the structure's size and visibility, its identity has thus far managed to remain a secret. Some guesses: a movie set, a floating prison, maybe even condominiums.

The barge and its secret cargo will soon leave the city. Several people familiar with the project either still do not know all of the details or aren't willing to divulge them.

The state Department of Transportation is responsible for the Admiral Harold E. Shear State Pier, and Logistec USA leases pier space from the DOT as one of two facility operators.

A spokesman for the terminal operator said Turner Construction leased space from Logistec around May to build the structure on the barge, but never told Logistec exactly what it was building. The barge will go to a yard in Maine next week so the structure can be completed, the spokesman added, and the contractor has been "very adamant" about "keeping it under wraps."

Chuck Beck, the transportation maritime manager for the DOT, said the department was not involved in the fiduciary agreement between Logistec and Turner Construction and, as a result, "has little to no details on what was being constructed, why or for whom."

The job superintendent provided by the DOT for Turner Construction did not return calls for comment. The company's vice president for communications said he would find out about the project Friday but did not provide any information by late in the day. The construction company was hired by a client for the work.

Two barges of equal size docked at the pier and container units to make up the building were brought in. No construction took place on the second barge, which is behind the first. Workers have not been there in several weeks.

There were several security guards at the site earlier this month. Three of them said the only thing they were told was to watch the building until it was taken away.

The Coast Guard reviewed the plans, since the construction could affect the stability of an ocean-going barge.

Lt. Jeff Janaro, spokesman for Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, said the marine inspector told him he could not discuss the plans "for proprietary reasons." Janaro said it's unusual that the person being regulated would ask the Coast Guard not to disclose information for that reason. The Day has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the Coast Guard documents.

"Usually the marine inspection business is fairly routine," Janaro said. "This is a little outside of the normal realm."

Both the state and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration offices said they were not involved.

Brian Thompson, director of the Office of Long Island Sound Programs for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the department would not require a structures, dredging and fill permit if nothing was built permanently in or adjacent to the water. There is nothing on file in the office, he added.

"It's just a modification on that barge, and we wouldn't require a permit for that," Thompson said.

Tammy Daugherty, the city's director of development and planning, directed all questions about the matter to Logistec and the state.

When asked if the city was told what the building is, she said, "I need to just remain silent. We have not been told. I think it's a security thing. I don't know. We don't have any information on it."

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney's office was told the building is a movie set. John Johnson, chairman of Operation Sail 2012 and the recent Connecticut Schooner Festival, said he heard the same thing. "I believe I'm right about that, based on everything I've heard over two or three months," Johnson said Friday.

George Norfleet, director of the Connecticut Office of Film, Television and Digital Media, said he was not notified about any film set construction at State Pier, but said he probably would not be if the company is not filming at the site and therefore not applying for a tax credit.

Others speculated the Department of Defense or the New York City Department of Correction is involved.

A Defense Department spokesman said he could not try to figure it out without first knowing which of the many agencies that fall within the department could have paid for the construction.

New York City has a prison barge with cells that was built to reduce overcrowding. The Vernon C. Bain Center in the Bronx is part of the Rikers Island prison.

Sailfest Executive Director Barbara J. Neff said people were calling her office to ask about the building, so she called the DOT. She said she was told the building will be used in New York. "It seems like it's a pretty hush-hush thing,"she said.

Most people who were asked said they were curious about it, but for now it remains a mystery.

I think it might be a top secret test by a top secret organization to see if the area and its local officials can be entrusted with top secret projects. Loose lips sink ships - or barges or whatever they are - or aren't.

I wonder if the builders received a tax incentive that will not require them to pay taxes for a number of years to build the mystery "thing" in New London. Then they can be out of the business of building in the city before they owe any taxes. LOL, not that it's happened in the past.

this is the new generator that will help make the offshore wind farm serve a dual purpose, when it's very hot and there is no breeze, the generator kicks in and powers the fans to create a sea breeze......

Thanks to my network of clandestine informants, I've been able to solve the puzzle. It seems in a show of fiscal responsibility, Mayor Finizio decided that the costs of kenneling NLPD K9 Bessie was out of control and has built her a new kennel.

Tammy Daugherty says "She must remain silent." But then goes on to ramble speculation , refer all questions to somebody else and then says " I think its a security thing." You think.... "I don't know." No kidding Tammy....you don't know. And "We don't have any information on it." Right because its none of your business and you just don't know. You started good Tammy with I must remain silent. You should have kept it that way. I heard it was full of bike racks for the City at the request Laura Natusch.

I was amazed by how many people didn't realize it was even there, after it had been there for weeks. As to the "public" interest, some of it stems from its location at State Pier instead of private property. I am sure we will find out in due time; enquiring minds (including mine) want to know!

Why do we care? It is not interfering with our lives, they have not asked us for any tax dollars to support it and it does not appear to be a drain on our resources. Until it does one of those things it really is none of our business and our relentless pursuit of "the truth" may put future projects in jeopardy...